Apparatus for bulk handling of materials



March 2, 1965 E. H. ELLMS ET AL APPARATUS FOR BULK HANDLING OF MATERIALS Filed Nov. 28. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 EDWARD HELLMS JOHN E.ZIRKLE MELVIN E.MYERS DONALD L.STEERS ATTORN EY INVENTORS:

March 2, 1965 E. H. ELLMS ET AL APPARATUS FOR BULK HANDLING OF MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28. 1960 lOl March 2, 1965 E. H. ELLMS ETAL 3,171,449

APPARATUS FOR BULK HANDLING OF MATERIALS Filed Nov. 28. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 52 INVENTORS:

i 32 EDWARD H.ELLMS JOHN E.ZIRKLE r1* MELVIN E.MYERS 43 33 DONALD L.STEERS ATTORNEY United States Patent F 3,171,449 APPARATUS FOR BULK HANDLING OF MATERIALS Edward H. Ellms, Bogota, N.J., Melvin E. Myers, Bedford, Mich., and Donald L. Steers, Toledo, and John E. Zirkle, Fremont, Ohio, assignors to Allied Chemical Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 72,008 17 Claims. (Cl. 141-630) This invention relates to apparatus for handling bulk materials, especially more or less pulverized solid materials which are likely to create dust abatement problems.

Many industrial operations involve transportation of pulverulent dusty solid materials in large bulk containers, and ultimate transfer of the material from a container to e.g. a reactor, blender or other receptacle in which the material is further processed. Transfer of such materials from one container to another gives rise to familiar dusting problems including dust nuisance, escape of material to the atmosphere with resultant loss of material, explosion hazard, and contamination of material during transfer.

The major object of this invention is to provide an easily constructed combination of apparatus which may be readily operated to substantially eliminate dusting difficulties during transfer of large bulk quantities of dusty solid materials from one container to another.

The invention, and the objects and advantages thereof may be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a view, partly in vertical elevation and partly in vertical diametric section, of one embodiment of the invention, sectional portion of FIG. 1 being taken generally along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental top plan view of a conduitconnector unit taken approximately on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, on a reduced scale, of a container supporting rack;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmental diametric vertical section of another embodiment of the invention showing related elements in relatively inoperative position, FIG. 5 being taken generally along the line S5 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a fragmental top plan view of the type of conduit-connector shown in FIG. 5 and is taken approximately on the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmental vertical diametric section similar to FIG. 5 but showing the corresponding elements in operative position;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic, reduced scale, partly elevational and partly vertical sectioned illustrations of modifications, and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic detail.

The embodiment of the material handling apparatus of the invention exemplified in FIG. 1 includes in general a receptacle 10 into which it is desired to feed material; a rigid-walled transportable bulk container 11 adapted to hold and to be used for transportation of e.g. pulverulent dusty solid material to be fed into the receptacle 10; a rack 12 for supporting container 11 in vertically inverted position; and a connector-conduit 14 which, in accordance with the invention, facilitates substantially dustless transfer of material from container 11 into receptacle 10.

The receptacle 10, shown only fragmentally in vertical longitudinal section, may be any unit of industrial apparatus into which it is desired for any purpose to feed 3,171,449 Patented Mar. 2, 1965 pulverulent solid material which is inherently dusty and which creates dusting problems on transfer from one container to another or from one process stage to another. For example, receptacle 10 may be a reactor in which one of the reactant materials is a pulverulent solid fed thereto as such, or receptacle 10 may be a blender or mixer into which materials including at least one pulverulent solid material is fed for mixing with other materials initially in solid or other physical form. In FIG. 1, 16 indicates the top side of a receptacle, reactor or blender having a circular inlet port 17 provided at the periphery with a fixedly attached annular reinforcing and guide ring 18 the inner vertical face of which is coextensive with the vertical edge of the inlet port 17.

In FIG. 1, container 11 is shown bottom side up, in vertically inverted position, and seated on supporting rack 12. Container 11 is typical of various forms of rigid- Walled transportable bulk containers, sometimes referred to as tote boxes, employed to transfer relatively large quantities of materials e.g. 5002000 lbs/unit, from one place to another. The particular container illustrated is flat-bottomed, flat-topped, substantially square in horizontal cross-section and provided on four bottom corners with legs 20 associated with lugs 21 arranged, when the container is in normal upright position, so as to receive the lifting forks of a lift truck of the type equipped with a rotating head and commonly used to transport, invert and place a container in up-ended position over a receiving receptacle. At the upper end 23, exteriorly the container is likewise square in horizontal cross-section, although interiorly the container is formed with a frusto-conical wall 25 the smaller circular end of which is attached as by welding to the contiguous portion of flat top 26 of the container. The small end of wall 25 merges with a short circular neck or throat 27 terminating in a circumferential bead 28. Cone-like wall 25 serves, when the container is in inverted position, to funnel the container contents to and thru a circular discharge port 29 which is bounded preferably by the circular neck 27.

Prior to use in practice of the invention, container 12 rests on a floor in normal top-side-up position and is filled or substantially filled with the pulverulent solid material to be eventually charged into e.g. receptacle 10. In accordance with one feature of the invention, the container discharge port 29 (FIG. 1) is covered with a flexible, rupturable membrane or diaphragm 30 which in this particular instance may be circular and may have an outside diameter say 2-4 inches greater than the outside diameter of the bead 28 on throat 27. The, diaphragm may be secured tightly to the bead 28, tautly covering port 29, by means of a circular clamping ring 28a (FIG. 1) of well known construction and operation. Subsequently, during practice of the invention, when the container 11 is turned up-side down, the diaphragm, priorto being ruptured, assumes a downwardly distended, partly spherelike surface represented by the dotted line 30 particularly of FIG. 5.

In accordance with practice of the invention, when the container 11 is in the vertically inverted position co-axially over the inlet port 17 of receptacle 10, the weight of the container and contents thereof is supported by the rack 12 shown generally in FIG. 1 and in reduced scale horizontal plan in FIG. 3. Rack 12 comprises side angle irons 31 and 32 welded rigidly to rear angle irons 33 as indicated at rear corners 34. The under sides of the forward ends of the horizontal legs of side irons 31 and 32 (lower part of FIG. 3) may be Welded as at 35 to the upper surface ends of a planar steel plate 37 which is not provided with an upstanding flange or leg corresponding to the vertical legs, e.g. 38, of the side and rear irons. Container centering side guides 40, 41, 42 and 43, and rear guides 44 and n lar a an l th substantially nesting relation.

latex o ed olv ret an ior rubber fo ms l abl .WmPm ib a .twil gh -mat rial jWhe -mtn de l s na a k t 4;-.m y ;1 .mi as; u ha auins 45 are Welded to the inner vertical faces of the upstanding legs of irons 31, 32 and 33 in approximately the horizontal plan positioning shown inP IG 3. Guide 43 appears in side elevation in FIGL1=4 and, as illustrated, o-the' in'war dly directed-face 49 of eachguide slopes inwardly and downwardly-andterminatesin a relativel-yshort vertically disposed surface 52 (FIGQ, 4'). i -It-will be understood that guidesurfaces 49 i and 52 function to .centerithe, inverted container 11 in the rack 12. Vertical leg sJof :sidevangle irons 31 and 32 andofrear angle iron 33 maybe 5-8 inches highQ- and since front :plate .37 sis planarfland-is without a verticallegJt-will.be seenithatrack:127provides a shelf-like support which is open at the-front'side to facili- I state t'ruclcpla'cement. of a verticallyvinvertedicontaineron the-rack from the front side of'the'apparatus. v If desired, and particularly if. head room' is of no particular lirn'; portance,-plate 37 mayber eplaced by .a duplicate of rear angle iron.33. a 41; .l

Int-gall embodiments of.the; invention, .the container sup-' portingorseating surfaces of the racks are locate'dzin a horizontal plane a selecteddistance above thelupperlsur-j 'face. oftop' -1'6 .of a receptacle l tilwhichisapiecerof equippressibility'of the gasket the topedge of the connector cutting blade '78, FIG; l,ijhaving;an upwardly directed cutting edge and supported'rigidly in suitable cutting position'from the inner wall of, the connector. While any suitabletype of cutting 'edge;may be employed, preferably the cutterzi'may be a 'flexiblegsawbladeof l 6- 20;;gauge,

having 3-6 triangular teeth A per, inch, with v teeth bevelled all on onezside. As shown in ELGVZ, the blade 78 lies in a circular: positionlwhich may; comprise 80-25% of a f ull circle; a portion of full circular cutting ot the diaphragrn being "omitted to the extentrof relatively short arc, e.g. less than :15; degrees, indicated are!) in FIG. 2. Are 80 may beofsany length just sutlicien't to providean uncut por- ;rnent .havingl fixed [relatiomto thefioo'r. of: a plant. iriLater- I :al1y,.raclc1'2 is located sothatthe verticaltaxisof the hori;

-zontally disposedarack. is lco-axial'lwith the vertical, axis of j -.the. inlet port .'17. of the receptacle ;Rack .12 his maintained "rigidly in the 7 position by suitable, steel framework pnot'shown.v it

The conduitconnectorfrif .PIG. lincludes arifopen lower ".Ollll8ll end 60 and .anropenupper endh61; s. The lowerfend isv circular in horiZontal section, 'andlehas .a diameter such :that the. shorttcylindricall section 6.4 iSCtS snugly within iring 18land=theycircumferenceofinletportzll of the retceptacle'taAnl annulanflangeifi, welded tor-section. 64, V a

provides fOrseating' the connectorvlon thering 18; andan intervening gasket .67 together witlr the snuglfit act the lower end of the connector, .within ring 18 aifordja pe'riph-Q eral, substantially dust-tight fit between: the lower, end of 4 theco'nnectorandreceptaclelinletporn; The upper end of theconnector has diametricall-andlperipheraldimensions greater thanathose. of, the 'ring 1278a,: whichtclamp zlheirlip I tumble ph agm; in pl ce t vert he con ain r d scharg :port 29. -V In situations in1whichthe, diameter of thejcontain'er sch g r rtllzi .i ;approxim telyyequ lmoo greater than-the diameter; of the receptacle; inlet port 1],

p f. w ll ftthe' c n ect r ltisiormed wit amnitionlofthe'diaphragm adequate to retain all of the cut-tout diaphragmmaterial in attachmentwith the periphery of the containerldischarge pqrt and to prevent any of thediaphragm; material from being carried thru the connector 7. into i areceptacle. g

,t-Thejcutting blade maybe supported teeth edge up in circular jposition by a series of L shaped" brackets 82, shown injplan' in FIG. 2 andin elevation in FIG. \1, the outerendl of each bracket being welded 1011M]? inner adjacentwallvof the connector -l l, As app arerit from ainspectionvofllGa 1, thevertical leg of each bracket 82 ,is vertically slotted as at 83 to frictionally or otherwise "fixedly-receivethe lower edge of the cuttingl blade and maintainthe sarnefso that the teeth points he in a horizontal plane iofila selected yertical position, slots 83 being 1 vertically elongated to provide readily for limited verti jc'al adjustment of the saw blade; Positioning -tof sup- .40;

br'a cket t sl'o ts {53 are such that when the vertically inporting brackets} 8 2; and the. adjustment of the blade in Y verted container 11 is seated onirackfll and throat 27 -ca ns tio -p rt o fl l p d itfic enfly nlthatithe up- .per cy nde -like i n oflthel conn tor lwallrhas. :diax me cal and. per nhe a di en'sions. ufifi ntiyla s athan ho e of e c mn ngnzrling 2 a, s fiha t e. ppen e zo h sb nec o t ns c n s h p ngl :rl 'g 284mm th associated container outlet neck 27, respective dimensional ditferences being such-that whena containerv is-irr the ve t l n e t d.pos nr nd e tcdc n c and the amp na n uzfia Pr e 51 8 ead Pi h? so nectq .14 with; smal h tp 'ac' hat may" be designated as a a swan-Hess L a. iei riie fli tth tor 14 is formed With'an outwardlyeggtending "nn'ulal" channel ,73 adaptedto:aiiordfseating for an annul 7 4 which m ayrbe a rectangularlv cross-section .abbve 1 4. 199 ldge Q hanne 713 an in any case h G s1,"c ntainer h jnes 1 iameter and v v 1 positioned saw blade are less than the inside diameter and .rmtwts n o; t wnne tor i t en poin bf the saw teeth lie'in a horizontalv plane at leastasdelevated as a hOri QntaII plane infwhich lies the lowermost extrerni-ty of the clamping ring 285:; preferred positioning bev. ing fsuch ;that"the teeth project into the container discharge port say O.25-1"inch'above such'plane; i.e.into

peripheral dimensions ofthe circularly peripheral dimension of the container discharge portand of circular neck or throat 27." s It hasbeen found that the spacing of the. cuttin'giblade inwardly from the ad- ,jacent inside surface ,of I the contaiher discharge port is ,of importance with regard to best mode of operation", and

f that suchj spiacing is related tol variat'ion'stin centering "jofsthecontainer.. ,on the supporting rack, "12. a H

Referring to FIGS. 31 and 4, the distance represented by the. dotted line 86 ,vEIG,Q3,tbetweenthe vertical faces 52 of guidesfll and43, is chosen to. substantially equal a the outside width of the. particular containers in use, -i.e.

say 0.5 1 inch. lnthe; particular. connect9r of lilG 1', p o i n t -.t its a su po t n sur ced rack 12, o t l e fiwld m n qn @tthemnew ltioa h Y if om s ib ah h op e ott -phann f for a 48 l-inch-(outside' measurement) square-container v -distance,6 of EIGQS iS 48 inches plus a variance From practical standpoint, outside dimensions of;individi ual'containers of a group of; containers of-given .spe- Icifications'arje usually. irregular and may vary to some .-s1nall;1but significant; plusfor tmirius extent, The term fv ame: ,isius edherein to denote variance in overall are selected or-adju s'ted'sp that the-upper edge? of the;

snh ne si u edge: at. t li ann it i i az ori a vr ane j st s i ht v b o l li-le liofqths,

supporting surfaces of rack 1 2, that is, exclusive of cam-g '1 outside width of a containern For practical purposes,' it may be considered that variances usuall'y. are distributed about equallya-on either side of a container center line. Q It will beiunderstoodtthatfwidth includes other correis nd e l im n i n st t h asg am erii the Of a =c ontai'ner of circular horizontal cross-section} Therclation between container width variance and container centering on the rack may be appreciated from consideration of FIG. 10. Solid line 90 indicates e.g. a 48" container width. Dotted lines 91 and 92 represent the lower outside vertical surfaces of the seating portion of a container having a plus variance of e.g. 4". Assuming a A maximum plus variance to be suflicient to handle all the containers of a group at hand, spacing apart of container guides 41 and 43, FIG. 3, is selected so that guide faces 52 (solid lines 52a, FIG. are spaced apart, each equally from the rack center line, just sufliciently to accommodate a A oversized container. In this situation, it will be seen that a A" oversize container is centered on the rack. In FIG. 10, dotted lines 95 and 96 represent the lower outside vertical surfaces of the seating portion of a container having a minus /4" variance, i.e. A" narrower than the normal 48" width of the container. In this circumstance, it will be understood that if one lower end of the container is in direct contact with a guide face 52a, the container is about A off-center. While FIG. 10 has been delineated on the basis of assumed variance of plus or minus A1 in the width of the container, it will be understood that provision may be made for other plus-minus variances. Permissible variances as much as plus or minus one half inch may be encountered although, preferably variances are not more than plus or minus M1 and may be as low as 4; to practically zero.

In order to prevent fouling of the cutter blade or teeth by metal-to-metal contact of the cutting edge with the lowermost extremity of a container discharge neck 27, and in order to provide adequate leeway for permissible plus or minus variances of overall widths of the con tainers and for resulting centering irregularities, radii of the cutting blade circles are chosen having regard to inside diameters of container discharge ports and permissible variances of container widths. Permissible variance may be represented by x. It has been found that the relationship between the inside diameter of a container discharge port and permissible width variance and proper placement of the cutting blade in the connector is such that the radius of the blade circle is less than the inside radius of a container discharge port 29 by an amount at least 1.5 times the allowable plus or is less than the radius of container discharge port 29.

Preferably blade radius is less than the inside radius of port 29 by an amount about two to three times the allowable plus or minus variance. able variance is A, the radius of the blade circle is /2 to A" less than the inside radius of discharge port 29.

In operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the container filled and in normal upright position, a diaphragm is stretched tautly across container discharge port 29 and clamped to bead 28. The diaphragm may be made of any suitable flexible rupturable material such as crystalline polypropylene, regenerated cellulose, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer sheeting, natural rubber, synthetic elastomers, or polyvinylidene chloride. Polyethylene sheeting of 4 mils thickness has been found particularly satisfactory. The container is lifted by any suitable mechanical means such as a fork truck provided with a rotating head, inverted, moved onto rack 12, FIG. 3, preferably from the front side over plate 37 and within the vertical legs 38 of side angle irons 31 and 32. A stop block may be fixed to the plant floor in front of rack 12 in position as to facilitate preventing the rear side of the container from overriding flange 38 of rear angle iron 33. In accordance with the dimensions of the particular containers used, guide blocks 43 may be sized and positioned to provide for a plus or minus variance of eg, Because of the flexible, more or less stretchable properties of the diaphragm, it will be understood that when the container is inverted and the weight For example, if allowof contents is taken by the diaphragm the latter will sag to some more or less extent depending upon variables such as nature of the material in the container, size of the container discharge port, and the physical characteristics and compositions of the diaphragm itself. In any given situation, normal sag of a diaphragm is readily determinable, and the arcuate dotted line 30 of FIG. 1 indicates representative sag, assuming no cutting of the diaphragm has been effected.

In the apparatus of FIG. 1, the upper edge of the connector 14, exclusive of compressibility of the gasket 74, is located just slightly below the level of the container seat on rack 12, and cutting blade positioning is such that the cutting teeth project about halfway into discharge throat 27 which may be say 1%" long axially. With this arrangement and using the type of connector of FIG. 1, it will be seen that, immediately the container is seated on rack 12, gasket 74 is compressed to form a substantially dust-tight seal between the upper end of the connector and the adjacent surface of the container, and the saw blade, cooperating with the normal sag of the diaphragm, substantially simultaneously with sealing by the gasket peripherally ruptures the diaphragm to the extent of the say 365 circumference of the blade. The cut portion of the diaphragm drops into the connector, but passage of diaphragm material into the receptacle along with solid material is prevented by the diaphragm uncut portion which retains the diaphragm material in attachment with the periphery of the container discharge port. Accordingly, it will be seen that the apparatus already described provides means which are operable and which act, when the container is seated in inverted position on the rack, to form a substantially dust-tight seal between the upper periphery of the connector and an adjacent peripheral portion of the container and to substantially simultaneously cut the diaphragm so as to effect flow of solid material thru the container discharge port into the connector and to maintain attachment of the diaphragm material to the discharge port periphery.

In the apparatus of FIG. 1, sealing and diaphragm rupturing are effected substantially immediately on seating of the container in the rack 12. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 sealing and diaphragm rupturing may be effected selectively either immediately on seating of the container in the rack 12 or at some subsequent desired time. Such flexibility of construc tion affords the advantage of facilitating feed of material to a receptacle thru a series of receptacle inlet ports at desired times independent of momentary availability of container moving equipment.

As indicated in FIG. 5, the lower end 101 of the connector 102 is designed to fit snugly and telescopically within the top-side inlet port and associated reinforcing ring 105 of receptacle 1%. Projecting outwardly from about the vertical mid-point of the connector 102 is an annular flange 107 the under surface of which seats on the top side of an inflatable annulus 110, shown collapsed in FIG. 5, which circumferentially surrounds the connector and rests on ring 105. The upper end of connector 102 is provided with a sealing gasket 112, similar to that of FIG. 1, and near the upper end, connector 102 carries the interiorly disposed cutting blade 114 and supporting brackets 115, arrangement of blade and brackets being in general similar to that of FIG. 1. Vertical axial dimension of connector 192 above flange 107 and the relative positioning of gasket 112, blade 114- and brackets 115 are such that when annulus 110 is collapsed and the lower end of connector 102 is fully retracted within receptacle 106, gasket 112 in uncompressed condition is out of contact with the contiguous portion flat top 118 of the container which is seated in inverted position in the rack 12. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, vertical positioning of blade 114 in the connector 102 is such that when the connector is retracted the cutting edge of the blade lies sufficiently below, as indicated at 120, the adjacent diaphragm in its fnlly sagged position to avoid rupturing contact therewith. Gasket 112 and the cutting edge of blade 114 are axially spaced apart on the connector so that theclearan'ce 122'between a placed on the rack and retained there with diaphragm-t uncut for any length of time before transferring material from thecontainer into receptacle 106 Whenit isv desired to effect such transfer it is onlyneces'saryto inflate the annulus, by means of suitable compressed air pipes, valves, etc. not shown, to the extent indicated at 125 in FIG. and adequate upward movement of the con nector 102 effects sealing by thegasket 112 and substantially simultaneous diaphragm rupturing by the cutting blade 114. Hence, the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 7 includes frneans operable, when the container is seated in inverted position on the rack, to form "a substantially dust-tight seal between the upper periphery of the con nector and an adjacent peripheral portion of, the container and to cut the diaphragm so asto effect flow of solid rn'aterial thru' the container discharg'e'port into the tion it will be understood that the apparatus then functions the same as the connector of FIG. 1, i.e. immedijside, inletport, a unitary conduit connector including an ately on seating of a container on the rack, sealin'g and V diaphragm rupturing are "effected substantially simultaneously.

For convenience, the invention has been described a in connection with the use of circularly disposed cutting blades, and containers having substantially square hori:

zontal cross-sections, flat tops, and circular discharge 7 ports. Radially orjdiametrically disposed cutting blades,

and other forms of containers may be er'n'ployedj. ,FIG. 8

indicates diagrammatically a container 130 having a substantially square horizontal cross-section throughout a tion. 131, and a discharge port 134 which n-lay ,be'z s'ubmajor portion of its height,atrusto-pyrarnidalT topesec stantially square or rectangular in horizontalplan, The 7 upper corners of the main body'p'ortion, ofthe container may have attached thereto angle'iron legsll3 6 suflici'ently long so thatthelower ends bear'on the supportingsurface of a rack 137, the equivalent of rack 12 of,FI G. I

A conduit-connector andfassociated sealing and cutting facilities suitable for usein conjunction with container would be substantially the same as the connectorpf I 4 FIG. 1 except for a change from circular to'rectangular conformation in plan, In FIG. 9, the' container may be circular in horizontalcrosssection and'have arfrusto conical top end 141 terminating in a circularldischarge" port 142. Thevertical location of a supporting rack;144, maybe adjusted to cooperate with a weight'bearing ring end of a connectorg a We claim: I I

. 1 Material handling apparatus comprisingfjin cotnbination a rigid-walled transportable bulk: container adapted to hold dusty solid material; and havinga 'topend discharge port, a' flexible r upturab'le diaphragm. at-

' tached to'the periphery or said portend adapted-togm. close the same and to retain material in? said containeijif when in vertically inverted position, a. receptacle. having 1 aItop-side inlet port, aunitary conduit connector in-' eluding. an; open lowergoutlet-end andf anopen upper ttv j inlet end having a peripheral dimension greater thanv 50' a v a 1 flow of solid material thru the container discharge 'port a 8 I a that of "saidcontainer discharge port,=meansfor associating the connector outlet endand the receptacle inlet 'port in peripherally substantially dust-tight: relation,

' means including a raclcfor receiving and supporting the weight of said container in vertically inverted position superjacentthe connector inlet end and so that the inverted container discharge port is immediatelyadjacently associated with the connector inlet end in concentric relationisaid conduit connector being non-fixedly associated with and movable with respect to each of said receptacle and rack, including first means operable,

' after lthe container-has been fully seated and supported in inverted position on the rack, to form a" substantially dust-tight seal between'the upper periphery of the connector and an adjacent peripheral ,portion of thereontainer and second meanstocut, said, diaphragm inone stroke so as to effect substantially full flow of solid material thru the container discharge port into the connector and to maintain attachment'tothe discharge port periphery of substantially only enough diaphragm mav terial to prevent any of the sarne from; being carried vto hold dusty solid materialand havinga top-end discharge port, a flexible rupturable diaphragm attached to the periphery or said port and adapted to close the 'same and toiretain material in 'saidcontainer when in vertically inverted position, a, receptacle having a topopen lower outlet end and an open upper inlet end hav- 'ing a' peripheral "dimension greater than that of said container discharge port and terminatingin a peripherally formedupwa'rdly, projecting compressible sealing gasketnnieans for associating the connector outletend V 'and the receptacle inlet port in peripherally ;substantially dust-tight relation, .means including-a raclcfor. re-

,ceiying' and supporting-the weightqof said i container .in 'v ertically inverted position superjacent the connectorini 1s cnd n sq t h in e enu s hats 'pc is, immediately adjacently associated; with the'connector inlet 1end;.in concentric relation, said conduit connector being"non-fixedly associatedwith' and movable with'respect; toeach-ot said receptableand rack, and means I acting+aften the ,1 container; has been tully seated; and 7 supported in inverted position I on the rack] and-the gasket is in, compressed substantially 1 dustdight sealing engage? ment with an adjacent peripheral portion. of the conta1ner to substantially simultaneously cut said;.dia; phragrn in one strokeso as to effect substantially full into the connector and to maintain attachment to the discharge port, periphery: of substantially only enough diaphragm material to preyent any; of the same from' being carried into the connector}., t

3;"flhefapparatusof claim linwhich the container discharge port includes a short outwardlyprojecting neck -to the peripherylof which'the diaphragm is attached} and the rack is'vertically positioned'relative to the. top

end ofv the conneetor so that,'fl;when the inverted con- 1 tainer is pseatedgon 'thejr,ack,;the terminal end ofthe neclgprojects, into open upperrinlet end of the;connector in peripherally' adjacent substantially nesting relation.

; 4: Apparatu s ot claim lin which. the means" for cut- .tin'g thefdiaph'rag'rn comprises a cutter 'blade attached to the connector and formed-and positioned to cut the diaphragnr peripherally on'ahcutl line adjacent the inner periphery zoi" the container discharge port and extending ,for. morefthanamajor lengthier a complete peripheralcut' but 'sufliciently short of. a completerperipheral cuttomaincry of the container discharge port, said blade being supported interiorly of the connector and vertically positioned so as to cooperate with the normal sag of the uncut diaphragm to effect the said cutting thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for cutting the diaphragm includes a peripheral cutter blade attached to the connector and formed and positioned to cut the diaphragm peripherally and adjacent the inner periphery of the container discharge port: and in which apparatus the rack includes container seating guides set to receive and seat a container having a seating portion of permissible dimensional variance value x; said peripheral cutter blade being positioned so that the radial dimension from the vertical axis of the connector to the peripheral blade is less than the corresponding radial dimension of the container discharge port by an amount at least 1.5x.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the peripheral cutter blade is positioned so that the radial dimension from the vertical axis of the connector to the peripheral blade is less than the corresponding radial dimension of the container discharge port by an amount in the range of 2x-3x.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which dimensions are in inches, and x is in the range of zero- /z inch.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the dimensions are in inches, x is in the range of zero-V2 inch, and the peripheral cutter blade is positioned so that the radial dimension from the vertical axis of the connector to the peripheral blade is less than the corresponding radial dimension of the container discharge port by an amount in the range of 2x-3x.

10. Material handling apparatus comprising in combination a rigid-walled transportable bulk container adapted to hold dusty solid material and having a topend discharge port, a flexible rupturable diaphragm attached to the periphery of said port and adapted to close the same and to retain material in said container when in vertically inverted position, a receptacle having a top-side inlet port, a unitary conduit connector including an open lower outlet end and an open upper inlet end having a peripheral dimension greater than that of said container discharge port and terminating in a peripherally formed upwardly projecting compressible sealing gasket, means i for associating the connector outlet end and the receptacle inlet port in peripherally substantially dust-tight relation, means including a rack for receiving and supporting the weight of said container in vertically inverted position superjacent the connector inlet end and so that the inverted container discharge port is immediately adjacently associated with the connector inlet end in concentric relation, said conduit connector being non-fixedly associated with and movable with respect to each of said receptacle and rack, including first means acting, after the container has been fully seated and supported in inverted position on the rack, to compress the gasket into substantially dusttight sea-ling engagement with an adjacent peripheral portion of the container, and second means to substantially simultaneously cut said diaphragm in one stroke so as to effect substantially full flow of solid material thru the container discharge port into the connector and to maintain attachment to the discharge port periphery of substantially only enough diaphragm material to prevent any of the same from being carried into the connector.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the said rack includes a seat for supporting the container and the rack is vertically positioned so that the said seat is substantially level with the top end of the connector exclusive of compressibility of the gasket; and in which apparatus the means for cutting the diaphragm comprises a cutter blade formed to cut the diaphragm peripherally adjacent the inner periphery of the container discharge port; said blade being supported interiorly of the connector and vertically positioned so as to cooperate with the normal sag of the uncut diaphragm to effect the said cutting thereof.

12-. Material handling apparatus comprising in combination a rigid-walled transportable bulk container adapted to hold dusty solid material and, having a'topend discharge port, a flexible rupturable diaphragm attached to the periphery of said port and adaptedto close the, same and to retain material in said container when in vertically inverted position, a receptacle having a topside inlet port, a unitary conduit connector including an open lower outlet end and an open upper inlet end having a peripheral dimension greater than that of said container discharge port, means for associating the connector outlet end and the receptacle inlet port in peripherally substantially dust-tight relation, means including a rack for receiving and supporting the weight of said container in vertically inverted position 'superjacent the connector inlet end and so that the inverted container discharge port is immediately adjacently associated with the connector inlet end in concentric relation, said conduit connector being non-fixedly associated with and movable with respect to each of said receptacle and rack, and pneumatically actuated means operable, when the container is seated in inverted position on the said rack, to form a substantial-1y dust-tight seal between the upper periphery of the connector and an adjacent peripheral portion of the container and to cut said diaphragm so as toeffect flow of solid material through the container discharge port into the connector and to maintain attachment of diaphragm material to the discharge port periphery.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the said pneumatically actuated means, for forming the seal between the connector and the container and for cutting the diaphragm, are operable selectively on seating of the con tainer on the rack or at a desired time interval thereafter.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the said pneumatically actuated means effects formation of the seal between the connector and the container and substantially simultaneously cuts the diaphragm.

15. Material handling apparatus comprising in combination a rigid-walled transportable bulk container adapted to hold dusty solid material and having a topend discharge port, a flexible rupturable diaphragm attached to the periphery of said port and adapted to close the same and to retain material in said container when in vertically inverted position, a receptacle having a topside-inlet port, a rack for receiving and supporting the weight of said container in vertically inverted position above and substantially coaxial with the receptacle inlet port, a vertically movable unitary conduit connector coaxially disposed between the rack and the receptacle and including an open lower outlet end and an open upper inlet end having a peripheral dimension greater thanthat of said container discharge port and terminating in a peripherally formed upwardly projecting compressible sealing gasket, means for telescopically associating the connector outlet end and the receptacle inlet port in peripherally substantially dust-tight relation, an upwardly directed cutting blade carried interiorly by said connector, and means operable, when the container is seated in inverted position on the said rack, to raise the connector so as to move the gasket into compressed substantially dust-tight sealing engagement with an adjacent peripheral portion of the container, and so as to cut said diaphragm so as to effect flow of solid material through the container discharge port into the connector and to maintain attachment of diaphragm material to the discharge port periphery.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the means for raising the connector is pneumatically actuated, and conhector-container sealing and diaphragm cutting are effected substantially simultaneously.

17. Apparatus of claim 15 in which the means for cutting the diaphragm comprises a toothed cutter blade formed and positioned to cut the diaphragm peripherally, 

1. MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION TO RIGID-WALLED TRANSPORTABLE BULK CONTAINER ADAPTED TO HOLD DUSTY SOLID MATERIAL AND HAVING A TOPEND DISCHARGE PORT, A FLEXIBLE RUPTURABLE DIAPHRAGM ATTACHED TO THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PORT AND ADAPTED TO CLOSE THE SAME AND TO RETAIN MATERIAL IN SAID CONTAINER WHEN IN VERTICALLY INVERTED POSITION, A RECEPTACLE HAVING A TOP-SIDE INLET PORT, A UNITARY CONDUIT CONNECTOR INCLUDING AN OPEN LOWER OUTLET END AND AN OPEN UPPER INLET END HAVING A PERIPHERAL DIMENSION GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID CONTAINER DISCHARGE PORT, MEANS FOR ASSOCIATING THE CONNECTOR OUTLET END AND THE RECEPTACLE INLET PORT IN PERIPHERALLY SUBSTANTIALLY DUST-TIGHT RELATION, MEANS INCLUDING A RACK FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF SAID CONTAINER IN VERTICALLY INVERTED POSITION SUPERJACENT THE CONNECTOR INLET END AND SO THAT THE INVERTED CONTAINER DISCHARGE PORT IS IMMEDIATELY AJDACENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONNECTOR INLET END IN CONCENTRIC RELATION, SAID CONDUIT CONNECTOR BEING NON-FIXEDLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO EACH OF SAID RECEPTACLE AND RACK, INCLUDING FIRST MEANS OPERABLE, AFTER THE CONTAINER HAS BEEN FULLY SEATED AND SUPPORTED IN INVERTED POSITION ON THE RACK, TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY DUST-TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN THE UPPER PERIPHERY OF THE CONNECTOR AND AN ADJACENT PERIPHERAL PORTION OF THE CONTAINER AND THE SECOND MEANS TO CUT SAID DIAPHRAGM IN ONE STROKE SO AS TO EFFECT SUBSTANTIALLY FULL FLOW OF SOLID MATERIAL THRU THE CONTAINER DISCHARGE PORT INTO THE CONNECTOR AND TO MAINTAIN ATTACHMENT TO THE DISCHARGE PORT PERIPHERY OF SUBSTANTIALLY ONLY ENOUGH DIAPHRAGM MATERIAL TO PREVENT ANY OF THE SAME FROM BEING CARRIED INTO THE CONNECTOR. 